Treadmill with an automatically foldable treadbase

ABSTRACT

A treadmill includes a base frame, a treadbase, a support bar unit, and a drive unit. The base frame has front and rear frame ends. The treadbase has front and rear base ends, and includes a treading member disposed above the base frame. The support bar unit has a first bar portion pivoted to the treading member, and a second bar portion pivoted to the base frame. The drive unit includes a drive motor mounted on the base frame, and a telescopic arm having a front arm end coupled to the treadbase, and a rear arm end connected to the drive motor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no.091214891, filed on Sep. 20, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a treadmill, more particularly to atreadmill with an automatically foldable treadbase.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Treadmills are indoor exercising equipments preferred by manyusers. However, conventional treadmills are difficult to store andoccupy much space because of their irregular shapes and bulky sizes.

[0006] To solve this problem, various designs for treadmills withfoldable treadbases are currently available on the market. Conventionaltreadmills with foldable treadbases allow users to manually fold orunfold the treadbases of the treadmills.

[0007] One problem with the treadmills having manually foldabletreadbases is that the treadbases are difficult to manually lift to thefolded state and may cause back strain or other injury. Heavy treadbasesare also hazardous when released from the folded state as they willrapidly fall and could injure the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide atreadbase that can be folded and unfolded automatically.

[0009] According to the present invention, a treadmill comprises a baseframe, a treadbase, a support bar unit, and a drive unit. The base framehas front and rear frame ends. The treadbase has front and rear baseends, and includes a treading member disposed above the base frame. Thesupport bar unit has a first bar portion pivoted to the treading member,and a second bar portion pivoted to the base frame. The drive unitincludes power unit mounted on the base frame, and a telescopic arm thathas a front arm end coupled to the treadbase and a rear arm endconnected to the power unit. The drive motor is operable so as to extendforward or retract rearward the front arm end of the telescopic arm.Rearward retraction of the front arm end results in movement of thefront base end toward the rear frame end and in upward folding movementof the treadbase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment ofa treadmill according to the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodimentwith a treadbase in an upright folded state;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment ofa treadmill according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the second preferred embodimentwith a treadbase in an inclined unfolded state;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the second preferred embodimentwith the treadbase in a horizontal unfolded state;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the second preferred embodimentwith the treadbase in an upright folded state; and

[0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment ofa treadmill according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, itshould be noted that like elements are denoted by the same referencenumerals throughout the disclosure.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of atreadmill according to the present invention is shown to include a baseframe 1, a treadbase 2, a support bar unit 4, and a drive unit 3.

[0020] The base frame 1 has front and rear frame ends 114, 113, andincludes left and right frame portions 11 and a connecting frame portion12 that interconnects the left and right frame portions 11 at the rearframe end 113. Each of the left and right frame portions 11 has an innersurface 112 formed with a slide rail 111 that extends from the frontframe end 114 toward the rear frame end 113. An upright prop 14 formounting a control panel has a lower end portion secured to the baseframe 1 at the front frame end 114.

[0021] The treadbase 2 includes a treading member 20 that has left andright base portions 21, 22 and connecting base portions 23, 24 thatinterconnect the left and right base portions 21, 22 and that serve asfront and rear base ends of the treadbase 2. The treading member 20 isdisposed above the base frame 1. The connecting base portion 23 isprovided with rollers 34 that are coupled slidably and respectively tothe slide rails 111.

[0022] The support bar unit 4 includes left and right bars 41 adjacentto a respective one of the left and right frame portions 11 of the baseframe 1. Each of the left and right bars 41 has a first bar portion 412that is connected pivotally to a respective one of the left and rightbase portions 21, 22, and a second bar portion 411 that is connectedpivotally to the connecting frame portion 12 of the base frame 1.

[0023] The drive unit 3 includes a drive motor 33 and a telescopic arm.The drive motor 33 is mounted pivotally on the connecting frame portion12 of the base frame 1. The telescopic arm includes an internallythreaded sleeve tube 31 and a screw rod 32. The sleeve tube 31 has oneend which serves as a front arm end 311 of the telescopic arm and whichis connected pivotally to the connecting base portion 23 of the treadingmember 20. The screw rod 32 is inserted threadedly and telescopicallyinto the sleeve tube 31 and has one end that serves as a rear arm end312 of the telescopic arm and that is connected to and driven rotatablyby the drive motor 33.

[0024] When it is desired to fold the treadbase 2, the drive motor 33 isoperated so as to rotate axially the screw rod 32 in a clockwisedirection, which causes the screw rod 32 to thread into the sleeve tube31. This results in rearward retraction of the front arm end 311relative to the connecting frame portion 12. This, in turn, pulls theconnecting base portion 23 and causes the rollers 34 to slide along theslide rails 111 toward the rear frame end 113 of the base frame 1. Dueto the pivotal connection of the support bars 41 to the treading member20 and the base frame 1, the treadbase 2 rotates about a pivot axis (A),which results in upward folding movement of the rear base end of thetreadbase 2, until the treadbase 2 reaches an upright folded state, asbest shown in FIG. 2.

[0025] Accordingly, when the drive motor 33 is operated so as to rotateaxially the screw rod 32 in a clockwise direction, the screw rod 32 isthreaded out of the sleeve tube 31, thereby resulting in forwardextension of the front arm end 311 relative to the connecting frameportion 12, sliding movement of the rollers 34 along the slide rails 111toward the front frame end 114, and downward unfolding movement of therear base end of the treadbase 2 until the latter reaches a horizontalunfolded state (not shown). Thus, movement of the treadbase 2 betweenthe folded and unfolded states can be done automatically.

[0026]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the second preferred embodiment of atreadmill according to the present invention. When compared with thefirst preferred embodiment, the treadbase 2 of this embodiment furtherincludes a lifting frame member 25. The lifting frame member 25 includesa pair of lifting bards 251, each having a first frame portion 2511 anda second frame portion 2512, and a first crossbar 253 that interconnectsthe second frame portions 2512 of the lifting bars 251. The first frameportions 2511 of the lifting bars 251 of the lifting frame member 25 arepivoted to the left and right base portions 21, 22 of the treadingmember 20, respectively. In addition, the first crossbar 253 of thelifting frame member 25, which serves as the front base end of thetreadbase 2 in this embodiment, is provided with the rollers 34 forcoupling slidably to the slide rails 111 of the base frame 1. The firstcrossbar 253 is thus movable between the front and rear frame ends 114,113 of the base frame 1. Moreover, the front arm end 311 of thetelescopic arm is connected pivotally to the first crossbar 253 of thelifting frame member 25.

[0027] With further reference to FIG. 5, the treadmill further comprisesa releasable fastening unit 26 for fastening immovably and selectivelythe lifting frame member 25 to the treading member 20. The fasteningunit 26 has a first fastening lug 261 provided on the treading member20, a second fastening lug 262 provided on the first crossbar 253 of thelifting frame member 25, a fastening screw 263, and a nut 264. Thefastening screw 263 and the nut 264 can be used to fasten together thelugs 261, 262, thereby fastening immovably the first crossbar 253 of thelifting frame member 25 to the treading member 20.

[0028] When the fastening unit 26 releases the first crossbar 253 of thelifting frame member 25 from the treading member 20, the drive motor 33can be operated so as to rotate the screw rod 32 for rearward retractionor forward extension of the front arm end 311 of the telescopic arm.This, in turn, results in sliding movement of the rollers 34 along theslide rails 111 to raise or lower the treading member 20 relative to thebase frame 1. Thus, the inclination of the treadbase 2 can be variedautomatically in this embodiment to suit the user's requirements.

[0029] When the fastening unit 26 fixes the first crossbar 253 of thelifting frame member 25 to the treading member 20, extension andretraction of the front arm end 311 of the telescopic arm due to theoperation of the drive motor 33 results in movement of the treadbase 2between the folded and unfolded states, as best shown in FIG. 6. Theoperation is similar to that of the first preferred embodiment and willnot be detailed further for the sake of brevity.

[0030]FIG. 7 illustrates the third preferred embodiment of a treadmillaccording to the present invention. When compared with the secondpreferred embodiment, the lifting frame member 25 further includes asecond crossbar 254 that interconnects the left and right lifting bars251 and that is parallel to the first crossbar 253. The front arm end311 of the telescopic arm is connected pivotally to the second crossbar254 of the lifting frame member 25. Since the operation of thisembodiment is similar to that described hereinabove in connection withthe second preferred embodiment, a detailed description of the same willbe dispensed with herein for the sake of brevity.

[0031] It has thus been shown that the treadmill of this inventionincludes a treadbase 2 that can be folded and unfolded using the drivemotor 3. The inclination of the treadbase 2 can also be varied using thesame motor in the second and third embodiments of this invention.Accordingly, the user can fold, unfold, and vary the inclination of thetreadbase 2 of the treadmill without undue physical strain. Further, thetelescopic arm and the drive motor 33 cooperate to prevent rapid fallingof the treadbase 2 during an unfolding operation, thereby making thetreadmill of this invention safer to use as compared with conventionaltreadmills.

[0032] While the present invention has been described in connection withwhat is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

I claim:
 1. A treadmill, comprising: a base frame having front and rearframe ends; a treadbase having front and rear base ends, and including atreading member disposed above said base frame; a support bar unithaving a first bar portion pivoted to said treading member, and a secondbar portion pivoted to said base frame; and a drive unit including adrive motor mounted on said base frame, and a telescopic arm having afront arm end coupled to said treadbase, and a rear arm end connected tosaid drive motor; wherein said drive motor is operable so as to extendforward or retract rearward said front arm end of said telescopic arm,whereby rearward retraction of said front arm end results in movement ofsaid front base end toward said rear frame end and in upward foldingmovement of said treadbase.
 2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein saidbase frame includes left and right frame portions and a connecting frameportion interconnecting said left and right frame portions at said rearframe end.
 3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein said support bar unitincludes left and right bars, each of which connects said treadingmember to said connecting frame portion adjacent to a respective one ofsaid left and right frame portions.
 4. The treadmill of claim 2, whereinsaid drive motor is mounted pivotally on said connecting frame portion.5. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein at least one of said left and rightframe portions is formed with a slide rail that extends from said frontframe end toward said rear frame end, said front base end of saidtreadbase being coupled slidably to said slide rail.
 6. The treadmill ofclaim 5, wherein said treading member is provided with a roller at saidfront base end for coupling slidably with said slide rail.
 7. Thetreadmill of claim 1, wherein said telescopic arm includes an internallythreaded sleeve tube connected pivotally to said treadbase, and a screwrod inserted threadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube andconnected to and driven rotatably by said drive motor.
 8. The treadmillof claim 1, wherein said telescopic arm includes an internally threadedsleeve tube connected pivotally to said treading member at said frontbase end, and a screw rod inserted threadedly and telescopically intosaid sleeve tube and connected to and driven rotatably by said drivemotor.
 9. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein said treadbase furtherincludes a lifting frame member having a first frame portion pivoted tosaid treading member and a second frame portion coupled slidably to saidbase frame and movable between said front and rear frame ends, saidfront arm end of said telescopic arm being connected to said liftingframe member, said treadmill further comprising a releasable fasteningunit for fastening immovably said lifting frame member to said treadingmember; wherein, when said fastening unit releases said lifting framemember from said treading member, extension and retraction of saidtelescopic arm due to operation of said drive motor varies inclinationof said treading member; wherein, when said fastening unit fixes saidlifting frame member to said treading member, extension and retractionof said telescopic arm due to operation of said drive motor results inmovement of said treadbase between folded and unfolded states.
 10. Thetreadmill of claim 9, wherein said base frame includes left and rightframe portions and a connecting frame portion interconnecting said leftand right frame portions at said rear frame end.
 11. The treadmill ofclaim 10, wherein said support bar unit includes left and right bars,each of which connects said treading member to said connecting frameportion adjacent to a respective one of said left and right frameportions.
 12. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein said drive motor ismounted pivotally on said connecting frame portion.
 13. The treadmill ofclaim 10, wherein at least one of said left and right frame portions isformed with a slide rail that extends from said front frame end towardsaid rear frame end, said second frame portion of said lifting framemember being coupled slidably to said slide rail.
 14. The treadmill ofclaim 13, wherein said lifting frame member includes a pair of liftingbars pivoted to said treading member, and a first crossbarinterconnecting said lifting bars.
 15. The treadmill of claim 14,wherein said first crossbar is provided with a roller for couplingslidably with said slide rail.
 16. The treadmill of claim 15, whereinsaid telescopic arm includes an internally threaded sleeve tubeconnected pivotally to said first crossbar, and a screw rod insertedthreadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube and connected to anddriven rotatably by said drive motor.
 17. The treadmill of claim 15,wherein said lifting frame member further includes a second crossbarinterconnecting said lifting bars and parallel to said first crossbar,said telescopic arm including an internally threaded sleeve tubeconnected pivotally to said second crossbar, and a screw rod insertedthreadedly and telescopically into said sleeve tube and connected to anddriven rotatably by said drive motor.